Gay Day on NPR’s News & Notes

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently declared the state’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. Two of the plaintiffs in that case, Alicia Heath-Toby and Saundra Toby-Heath, describe what marriage means to them.

Farai Chideya talks with Jasmyne Cannick, an activist and social commentator who writes about, among other issues, gay and lesbian communities of color. Last year, Essence magazine listed her among the top 25 "Women Shaping the World."

Guests: Michael Meyers, executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, Laura Washington, Chicago Sun-Times columnist, and Jeff Obafemi Carr, host of the radio show Freestyle. Tuesday’s topics include: a landscaping company in Texas refuses to do work for gays; and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Commentator Joseph C. Phillips shares his thoughts on the morality of same-sex marriage. Phillips is an actor and columnist living in Los Angeles. My rebuttal to his insane arguement can be found here.

Black gay rights champion Tyron Garner died recently in Texas. Three years ago, Garner worked to have Texas’ anti-sodomy law overruled. From member station KUT in Austin, Ben Philpott reports.

Jasmyne A. Cannick

Jasmyne Cannick is a nationally known writer and commentator on political, race and social issues. She was selected as one of ESSENCE Magazine’s 25 Women Shaping the World, one of the Most Influential African-Americans in Los Angeles Under 40, one of Los Angeles’ Most Fascinating Angelenos by the L.A. Weekly and one of 40 People Under 40 by the Advocate. She’s worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and at all levels of government helping to shape public opinion and encourage civic engagement while advocating for underrepresented and marginalized communities in the political arena. Learn more here.